Shi Qi couldn’t make up his mind for the moment.
Logically, he was curious about everything related to Shang Sui, especially the painting.
But he keenly sensed that the image hidden behind the canvas was like Pandora’s box. Once opened, whatever came out would mercilessly drag him into the abyss.
His instincts had always been sharp. No matter how curious he was, Shi Qi resisted the urge and shook his head. “I won’t look.”
As he spoke, he gestured toward the bag that had been thrown to the floor. “There’s a bite guard inside. Put it on.”
Shang Sui’s eyes widened slightly, looking at him with some surprise.
Shi Qi had not only rejected his suggestion but had even made a request in return. How unexpected…
“If you wear it, I’ll release pheromones for you.”
An Alpha in rut naturally exuded a strong sense of oppression. Even if Shang Sui did nothing, it was still overwhelming.
Shi Qi tentatively patted the arm wrapped around his waist. “Is that okay?”
The Alpha tilted his head, his light brown eyes looking down with a mechanical, cold glint.
Shi Qi’s fingertips dug slightly into his palm. Just as he was bracing for rejection—
Shang Sui broke into a brilliant smile. “Sure. Let’s make a trade.”
How interesting.
Might as well play along with Shi Qi.
“I want a full dose of your pheromones. If I say it’s not enough, you’re not allowed to stop.”
Shi Qi had no choice, and he had already planned to use his pheromones to help Shang Sui through his rut. He quickly agreed. “Okay.”
Shang Sui released him as promised and took the bite guard from the bag himself.
He didn’t seem to like the thing. His brow furrowed as he put it on. When the cold leather straps fixed into place across his face, Shi Qi heard him click his tongue, clearly displeased.
Jiang Youning and Shang Sui had one thing in common: when choosing something, it had to be the best-looking.
The bite guard she gave was gunmetal black—a color often seen in firearms or knives. It had a metallic sheen like silver but wasn’t as flashy.
Shang Sui’s long hair fell down. Under the leather straps and the metallic muzzle, his already striking features became even more seductive. He managed to turn what was meant to be a device to prevent Alphas from losing control during their rut into a decorative accessory.
But since Jiang Youning said even she couldn’t remove it, the bite guard’s quality should be quite reliable.
Shang Sui fastened the built-in lock, then pressed the key into Shi Qi’s palm. He even had the leisure to joke, “Hide it well. Don’t let me find it.”
That seemingly kind warning made Shi Qi immediately recall the horror game he’d played not long ago. Shang Sui was just like the boss in that game.
Right before attacking, he’d perversely tell the player to hide.
Shi Qi stuffed the key into his coat pocket. His fingers brushed against the condom Jiang Youning had tucked in earlier, and his expression subtly shifted.
Before he could think more about it, his wrist was suddenly seized. Shang Sui’s voice carried a faint note of amusement.
“I’ve put it on. Where’s the pheromone you promised me?”
Shi Qi didn’t even have time to react before being yanked forward.
A sudden constricting force closed around his waist. As if handling a beloved doll, the other man effortlessly lifted him up with one arm.
In the corner of the studio was a sofa bed, covered with a large, cloud-like fluffy blanket. The edges of the blanket draped down from all sides of the sofa to the wooden floor. It wasn’t practical, but it looked beautiful.
The world spun for a moment, and Shi Qi felt as if he had been thrown into the clouds.
The Alpha’s scent surged in like a tidal wave. Shang Sui half-knelt, pinning down his legs. One knee rested on the floor while his slightly long hair fell forward, casting Shi Qi entirely in his shadow.
“Were you lying?”
“What?” Shi Qi’s throat tightened, and he dared not look at him. “I wasn’t… Mmph!!”
A finger pried his lips apart mid-sentence and slipped into his mouth.
In a panic, Shi Qi tried to push against Shang Sui’s fingertip with his tongue. Just as he felt his canine tooth graze the pad of the finger, a second one forcefully shoved in. Shi Qi’s voice became muffled.
“Wh-what are you doing… Shang Sui, Shang… mmph!”
“You can’t release pheromones, can you?” Shang Sui exposed him without mercy. “You’re too tense. You’ve been shaking this whole time.”
Shi Qi’s body went rigid.
He didn’t know when it had started, but every nerve in his body had gone taut, and even his glands felt numb.
Shang Sui’s rut was terrifying. No matter how calm Shi Qi tried to appear, his instincts screamed at every cell to run.
At the same time, he could clearly feel that the Alpha, like a predator, was entranced by his every move, nearly obsessive in his craving for the pheromones Shi Qi couldn’t release.
It was all too strange.
He felt like both prey and the one holding someone else’s life in his hands. Every second was steeped in danger and intimacy.
He even instinctively curled into the sofa bed, trying to hide himself, but Shang Sui’s pheromones forcefully awakened his senses.
As he struggled, Shang Sui finally applied real strength to restrain him.
Shi Qi had no power to resist. All he could hear was the clinking sound of the chain shackled to the Alpha’s ankle.
He felt a hand caress his face, and his whole body trembled.
“Don’t be afraid. I’ll help you.”
Soon, a faint taste of blood spread in his mouth.
Realizing Shi Qi’s teeth couldn’t pierce his skin, Shang Sui pricked his own fingertip and fed the blood to him.
Blood was saturated with pheromones. A sweet scent spread from Shi Qi’s tongue, and he swallowed instinctively, feeling the sweet liquid drip slowly down his throat.
Aside from his mouth and tongue, his breathing was also filled with the rich scent, as if his whole body was soaked in a jar of honey.
His once-tense body gradually went limp. When Shang Sui no longer held him down, Shi Qi leaned in of his own accord and began to suck on the Alpha’s fingertip.
His long lashes trembled, and the deep gray of his eyes shimmered with an entranced light.
Shang Sui pressed his fingers against Shi Qi’s rosy lips and praised him, “Good boy. Eat a little more.”
He knew Shi Qi liked being praised. As expected, the Omega paused briefly, then began licking more earnestly at the blood on his fingers.
Shi Qi’s pheromones began to release naturally. The sweet and ethereal scent of lily of the valley lingered with the freshness of morning dew. The floral fragrance gradually filled the room, like clusters of white flowers blooming along a stream through a mountain valley.
When he sensed Shi Qi was ready, Shang Sui withdrew his hand.
Shi Qi thought he would wipe off the saliva and traces of blood with a tissue, but Shang Sui just smiled at him.
Through the metal muzzle of the bite guard, he put his fingers into his own mouth.
“!”
Shi Qi’s eyes widened in disbelief.
His cheeks flushed completely red as he stared blankly at the Alpha’s wanton act.
Shang Sui stared straight at Shi Qi, giving the impression that what he truly wanted to devour was a part of the Omega.
No, just a part wouldn’t be enough.
Something this beautiful, adorable, and irresistible—of course he had to devour all of it.
“Baby, I feel so uncomfortable.”
The Alpha’s voice was soft and slow, reminiscent of a snake hissing with its tongue.
“Won’t you help me?”
Shi Qi curled his fingers and asked in a low voice, “How do I…” help you?
“Give me your hand.”
Seeing the fine layer of sweat on the bridge of Shi Qi’s pale, upturned nose, Shang Sui coaxed, “Are you hot? Why don’t you take off some clothes?”
As if under a spell, Shi Qi took off his coat, then his sweater, until only a thin shirt remained.
He was completely out of it until the coat hit the ground and a small square box slipped out, dropping to the floor with a soft clack.
Shi Qi’s expression changed.
Shang Sui turned toward the sound, his gaze landing on the box and staying there.
Shi Qi hurriedly said, “My sister gave it to me, she thought we—”
“This one won’t work. It’s too small.”
As if finding it amusing that Shi Qi had brought something like that, he added, “You don’t need to worry about that next time.”
What…?
Weren’t male Alphas supposed to be about the same size?
Shang Sui leaned in, the bite guard pressing against Shi Qi’s vulnerable neck, the cold metal and burning breath hitting him at once.
Shi Qi turned his flushed face to the side, only to realize something a moment later and didn’t dare move again.
Shang Sui hadn’t lied.
It really… wouldn’t fit.
An Omega’s body was much softer than an Alpha’s, and so were their hands.
Shi Qi’s palm was pale and tender, with long fingers. The pink fingertips quivered like delicate flower buds.
Shang Sui held his beautiful hand and pulled it downward.
The two of them were tightly entwined, inseparable in their closeness.
Shang Sui seemed to have just taken a shower and changed clothes. Besides the scent of honey from his pheromones, his body also carried the warm fragrance of white musk.
The Alpha’s alluring breaths brushed against his ear. Shi Qi felt like he was being coiled by a dazzling serpent, its burning scales scraping across his skin.
He wanted to run, but the more he tried, the tighter the entanglement became.
The scent of lily of the valley and honey blended completely. Time blurred. Shi Qi was on the verge of losing consciousness.
…
Before Shi Qi could pull his hand back, Shang Sui grabbed his wrist first, rubbing against him affectionately. “I want you to wipe it for me.”
Shi Qi met his eyes for a moment, then silently reached for the box of tissues beside them.
Shang Sui was in rut and couldn’t control himself; his desires were magnified, so clinging to Shi Qi like that was completely normal.
But what about him?
Why did he obey so easily?
Shang Sui was just… too beautiful.
The Alpha’s lower eyelids held a flush of red, his whole being exuding a lazy yet satisfied air.
Shi Qi didn’t feel the slightest urge to resist. He willingly did these things for Shang Sui, even letting himself be drawn in.
There was so much.
Why was there so much?
Were all Alphas like this? There was no way to clean it all up.
The floor was littered with crumpled tissues he had thrown away. What overwhelmed Shi Qi even more was that the effect on his own body was growing stronger and stronger.
So… so hungry…
He glanced again at that pile of tissues, as if something delicious were hidden among them. For a moment, he actually wanted to pick one up and open it.
“You smell so good.” Shang Sui leaned closer just then. “What is it?”
The Alpha lowered his head. Through the thin layer of Shi Qi’s shirt, the hard muzzle of the bite guard touched his chest, then slid downward.
“I want a taste.”
Shi Qi nearly lost it and shoved him away. “No!”
He didn’t know whether it was his panic-fueled strength or Shang Sui’s lack of resistance, but the Alpha was actually pushed back.
Shi Qi leapt off the couch as fast as he could, afraid that even a second’s delay would reveal something.
“I’m taking a shower.” He didn’t even lift his head. “I’ll be back in a bit, wait for me—”
That should be enough, right? He was far enough from Shang Sui now. Nothing would be noticed.
The Alpha lying on the couch suddenly smiled.
He slowly turned his head, still in a half-reclined posture. His eyes were shockingly bright as he stared straight at Shi Qi.
“You’re already this wet.”
What…?
Shi Qi’s pupils contracted sharply.
“Want me to wipe it clean for you? A fair trade.”
“No, you… why…” Shi Qi stammered, not knowing when Shang Sui had noticed, or why he was only revealing it now.
It was as if he knew exactly what Shi Qi was thinking.
“Xiao Qi, I think it’s adorable when you pretend like nothing happened. I like it a lot.” Shang Sui slowly sat up. “But I’ve played along long enough—”
He raised both arms and reached behind to the clasp of the bite guard.
Under Shi Qi’s stunned gaze, Shang Sui’s fingers tightened, the veins on the backs of his hands bulging one by one, and like tearing sandpaper, he broke the bite guard apart with his bare hands!
The harsh snap of the internal lock breaking made Shi Qi’s spine go numb. For a second, he thought he was hallucinating.
What the hell was going on with Shang Sui?!
The scene before him defied logic. Shi Qi instinctively turned and ran toward the studio door.
If he could just make it out of the studio, Shang Sui’s ankle restraints would keep him from reaching him for the time being.
He just needed to calm down! He wasn’t really going to abandon Shang Sui!
But the strange thing was, Shang Sui didn’t chase after him.
Shi Qi didn’t have time to think. He’d already reached the edge of the studio, just one step away from getting out—
“Stop.”
A voice came from behind.
Shi Qi was forcibly rooted to the spot, frozen just one step away from the studio door, unable to move a muscle.
That command hadn’t sounded like it was spoken aloud. It felt more like it had been carved directly into his mind through some higher force, leaving him with no choice but to obey.
In the horror game he’d played recently, the final boss could control the player’s mind. Qin Shuhe had said the concept was inspired by the special ruts.
It was rumored that among Alphas in that state, a rare few could mentally manipulate others through pheromones. The effect was similar to hypnosis or psychological suggestion, but much stronger.
But those were just rumors and fantasies. How could something like that exist in reality?
Shi Qi couldn’t move, though his mind was racing with scattered thoughts. Suddenly, he remembered what Shen Qianyu had said: that Shang Sui was a category of his own among Alphas with special ruts.
He had always assumed that meant unusual physical strength. After all, breaking down a reinforced safehouse door or tearing off a bite guard barehanded wasn’t something just any Alpha could do.
But now it seemed the “special” Shen Qianyu mentioned…
Shi Qi remained frozen, unable to take a step, hearing the sound of chains dragging across the floor behind him.
In this bizarre, dangerous scene that felt more like it belonged in a fantasy novel, a totally out-of-place thought occurred to him.
Had Shang Sui really been wearing those heavy chains all this time? Didn’t they hurt?
The sound of metal chains clinking grew louder and closer. The scent of honey thickened in the air.
Shi Qi had been ordered to stay still, so he couldn’t turn around and could only listen to the approaching footsteps behind him.
“You promised you’d give me enough pheromones, and you’re not allowed to stop until I say so.”
A long finger traced circles on his waist. The voice behind him was especially tender, even the complaint laced with a kind of intimate affection.
“Sweetheart, where are you planning to run off to with my reward?”
Shi Qi blinked.
So he hadn’t misheard it.
Shang Sui really had called him that—“sweetheart.”
Unlike names like “baby” or “babe,” Shi Qi remembered that this was what Jiang Li called Shi An—a special nickname between lovers.
His lips parted slightly, and he whispered, blushing, “I…”
The Alpha sniffed him carefully and murmured, “It’s not enough yet.”
Slender fingers slowly slid upward from his lower back, tracing his straight spine bit by bit.
Shi Qi’s legs were so weak he could barely stand, a cry almost slipping from his lips.
When the hand reached the back of his neck, Shang Sui gently pinched it and said in an impossibly soft voice,
“Let’s play something else now.”
Author’s note: I love it when the bottom tries to run but the top catches him halfway—so cute
The mental control bit was first mentioned back in the chapter with gaming in Xiaozhong Mountain. Finally got to write it.
